A Guide to the ESPN College GameDay Posters, 2015, 2017, 2023 SC 0336

A Guide to the ESPN College GameDay Posters, 2015, 2017, 2023 SC 0336


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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections

820 Madison Drive
MSC 1706
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Grace Thomsen, Tiffany Cole

Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0336
Title
ESPN College GameDay posters 2015 2017 2023
Quantity
15 cubic feet, 15 flat files
Language
English .
Abstract
The ESPN College GameDay Posters consist of 70 posters created for the 2015, 2017, and 2023 ESPN College GameDay braodcasts held on the campus of James Madison University. Two of the posters were made for the 2015 ESPN College GameDay against the Richmond Spiders. Fourteen of the posters were created for the 2017 ESPN College GameDay against the Villanova Wildcats. Fifty-four posters document the 2023 ESPN College GameDay against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Other Formats Available

All 2015 and 2017 posters have been digitized and are available online via Artstor .

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], ESPN College GameDay posters, 2015, 2017, 2023, SC 0336, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Posters were donated on or soon after October 14, 2017 directly following GameDay events and collected at the front desk of Carrier Library. One of the 2015 GameDay posters was donated on October 9, 2017 directly to Special Collections. One 2017 poster was donated in November 2018. The 2023 GameDay posters were brought to a designated donation table located in front of Moody Hall after the broadcast on November 18, 2023. Special Collections staff also salvaged orphaned or trashed posters after the broadcast. The posters were donated by JMU students, alumni, and fans. Donors were not asked to sign deeds of gift.

Processing Information

Wooden dowels, PVC pipes, and other yard sticks were removed from signs. Given the usage of mixed media (glitter, ribbons, paint, etc.) in their creation, the posters were interfiled with acid-free paper. Several of the physical posters exhibit smearing due to water exposure and warping as well as color loss and image degradation.

The 2015 and 2017 posters were digitized in October 2022 by graduate assistants Mariam Ismail and Kayleigh Bishop using a Nikon D3300 digital camera with a 18-55 mm lens. Bodeene Amyot Cairdeas, digital and audiovisual archivist, edited the digital files to address the following issues: color, exposure, and lens correction, distortion, and chromatic aberration. Tiffany Cole, archivist, uploaded the edited files and respective metadata into JSTOR Forum/ArtStor in December 2022.


Biographical / Historical

Held every Saturday morning during the college football regular season, ESPN College GameDay broadcasts live from the campus of the team hosting the featured football game.

Scope and Contents

The ESPN College GameDay Posters consist of 70 posters created for the 2015, 2017, and 2023 ESPN College GameDay braodcasts held on the campus of James Madison University. Two of the posters were made for the 2015 ESPN College GameDay against the Richmond Spiders. Fourteen of the posters were created for the 2017 ESPN College GameDay against the Villanova Wildcats. Fifty-four posters document the 2023 ESPN College GameDay against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Internet memes, defined as humorous images online that are often replicated and parodied to fit specific situations, are used throughout the posters and represent the cultural references of the period and sometimes inside jokes from students at James Madison University directed at the opposing team. The signs also frequently draw on pop culture references and poke fun at the opposing team and their fanbase.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in sub-groups according to date and ESPN College GameDay opponents.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Bibliography

Bell, Brittany. "A Journey Well-Written - JMU." James Madison University, 16 April 2021, https://www.jmu.edu/news/alumni/2021/2021_04_16_a_journey_well_written.shtml.
Bozek, Richie. "JMU selected for ESPN 'College GameDay' next weekend." 2015. The Breeze, https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/jmu-selected-for-espn-college-gameday-next-weekend/article_3afdfd8e-743a-11e5-9742-3bee473e4cd1.html.
Holtzclaw, Harry. "A look at how JMU can get College GameDay once again." 2017. The Breeze, https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/a-look-at-how-jmu-can-get-college-gameday-once-again/article_0ec75c94-9ed9-11e7-a150-a797ee396993.html.
"meme, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, September 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/239909.
sports desk. "ESPN's 'College GameDay' announces return to JMU." 2017. The Breeze, https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/espns-college-gameday-announces-return-to-jmu/article_1c195fac-abed-11e7-a6d6-3fe7ae1346f6.html.
"2015 Football Cumulative Statistics." James Madison University Athletics, https://jmusports.com/sports/football/stats/2015.

Container List

2015 vs. Richmond Spiders
2 posters
2015 October 24
Biographical / Historical

James Madison University was first considered for ESPN's College GameDay in 2015. While there was conversation happening behind the scenes about James Madison University being that week's possible location, it was a tweet from Lee Fitting, ESPN producer for GameDay, that started public recognition of the school for a possible host for GameDay. His tweet came as a response from a James Madison University account called "JMU Duke Blawg" who had been pushing for ESPN GameDay attention. Between Everett Withers' as head football coach and Lavaedeay "Vad" Monlique Lee as quarterback, their season was gaining a lot of attention in the lead up to the GameDay picks. The undefeated season for James Madison University and the University of Richmond's winning streak helped make them a strong contender. James Madison University was sitting at a (7-0) undefeated winning streak while the University of Richmond was (5-1) and on a five-game winning streak at the time. ESPN announced on Sunday, October 18, 2015 that James Madison University would host the 2015 College GameDay on Saturday, October 24.

Scope and Contents

The 2015 GameDay posters focus on James Madison University's quarterback, Lavaedeay "Vad" Monlique Lee, implying he will lead them to victory. Vad Lee had a strong season in 2014 by taking James Madison University to the FCS playoffs and led a strong 2015 season leading up to the Richmond game, season statistics were (7-0; 4-0) at this point in the season. These posters center on Vad's leadership skills as quarterback and cheer him on through various pop culture references from 2015.

2017 vs. Villanova Wildcats
14 posters
2017 October 14
Biographical / Historical

The 2017 choice for GameDay was heavily influenced by online presence from the university and their long winning streak. With the popularization of social media, online attention from universities have become an easy way to get recognized, and from this, receive opportunities such as GameDay. The strategy for James Madison University was to lay the groundwork throughout their season while also maintaining a strong online presence in order to be considered. The Breeze, James Madison University's school newspaper, posted an article on September 21, 2017 laying out the strategy in place to secure a second year of hosting College GameDay. Part of the university's strategy included ensuring that James Madison University remained undefeated, that Villanova remained undefeated, and that the "JMU Nation must continue to nag College GameDay on social media." Ultimately, James Madison University went on to have the nation's longest winning streak, 17 games, in the lead up to ESPN College GameDay. On Sunday, October 8, 2017 ESPN officially announced that James Madison University would host GameDay on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

Scope and Contents

The 2017 GameDay posters primarily focus on James Madison University's strength as a team, and school, over Villanova. Using viral internet images popular in 2017, they center on the inferiority of the Villanova team when being compared to James Madison University. These viral images, often called memes, are variously displaying James Madison University's "superior taste" in all regards. Calling attention to Villanova's cost of tuition and low football game attendance rates, the majority of the posters purport that James Madison University will defeat them. One poster references an inside joke to James Madison University students about how Villanova will lose the football game because they are not fans of the correct condiment. There are some posters that center less on the animosity of the two teams and instead are saying hello to friends and family.

2023 vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
54 posters
2023 November 18
Biographical / Historical

ESPN College GameDay's third visit to Harrisonburg on November 18, 2023 was marked by a record setting crowd of approximately 26,000 people. Additionally, GameDay celebrated its 30th anniversary with its visit to JMU which also included musical performances by the Jonas Brothers and Bailey Zimmerman.

Leading up to GameDay, JMU and the NCAA were embroiled in a bowl game controversy related to JMU's transition period after switching from the Coastal Athletic Association to the Sun Belt Conference in 2021. Per NCAA rules, a two-year transition period is required for teams to fully transition from Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) to Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision). JMU's transition period was in effect from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024. While JMU was undefeated and nationally ranked at the time, the NCAA upheld the transition period rule that the football team would not be bowl eligible. Ultimately, JMU was able to play in a bowl game (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs. Air Force, 2023 December 23) since there were not enough six-win teams to fill all the bowl game slots.

Scope and Contents

Many of the signs make reference to the NCAA bowl game controversy; the Jonas Brothers, specifically Joe Jonas's recent separation from actress Sophie Turner; University of Michigan's football cheating scandal; and other happenings in pop culture.